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High school will be closed during summer energy improvements

Energy improvements at Park Rapids Area High School will cause the building to be closed off for most of the summer. Activities that were scheduled for this summer at the high school will need to be moved. (Anna Erickson / Enterprise)

Park Rapids Area High School will likely be closed off for most of the summer while energy improvements are being made.

Superintendent Glenn Chiodo told the school board last Wednesday that Johnson Controls has started looking at the building to get ready for construction.

The improvements will include a boiler replacement at the high school and roof work, along with energy improvements and deferred maintenance at the high school and Frank White Education Center.

Summer activities will need to be at Century School and high school office staff will need to be moved to Frank White Education Center. The Northern Light Opera Company is one group that will need to find another venue this summer. The musical "The Music Man" was scheduled to be performed at the high school auditorium.

The pool will not be disrupted because there is minimal work to be done there.

The high school will be considered a construction site, Chiodo said.

He added there will be regular meetings with Johnson Controls about the construction.

In other business, the board:

- Heard from Chiodo that it's going to be financially difficult for schools across the state.

"Nobody is immune to what's going on," he said. "We'll deal with it, we'll get through it...we'll play with the cards we've been dealt."

- Heard an update on the search for a new student information system for the computer.

Genesis is the program the principals are looking at. Staff has been looking at the parent portal program, along with the grading system and other areas.

- Approved the director of technology contract. The contract followed the same settlement that Education Minnesota received.

- Approved the retirement of first grade teacher Mary Frahm effective June 4. She has worked for the district for 31 years.

- Approved the resignation of paraprofessional Kelly Schupp. She has worked for the district for 11 years.

Chiodo said administration is recommending not to fill the paraprofessional position.

- Approved starting a discussion with Walker about a cooperative boys hockey program. Chiodo said the girls hockey program already has a cooperative agreement.

Received a Skeffington donation of $10,127.70. The donation is for a scholarship fund.